Ai Weiwei was born in northwest China but was sent to a labor camp in Beidahuang, Heilongjiang, when he was only a year old. There he was raised for the early years of his life. His father Aì Qīng’s involvement in the Anti-Rightist Movement led to the family's exile shortly afterward to Shihezi, Xinjiang, where Ai spent the duration of his childhood. Upon Mao Zedong’s death, the family returned to Beijing in 1976.
Following the family’s return home, Ai enrolled in the Beijing Film Academy to study animation in 1978. He was one of the founders of the avant-garde art group the Stars alongside contemporaries Ma Desheng, Wang Keping, Mao Lizi, Huang Rui, Li Shuang, Ah Cheng and Qu Leilei. The Stars disbanded in the 1980s, but Ai participated in regular shows that recalled the ten years that the group had been together, including at the Hanart Gallery in 1989 and the retrospective 2007 exhibition at Beijing's Origin Point.
Ai moved to the USA in 1981, among the earliest of students to study abroad following China’s reform in 1980, which afforded him the opportunity to take the TOEFL in 1981. He lived in Philadelphia and then in San Francisco, studying English at the University of California, Berkeley. Afteward, Ai studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City and attended the Art Students League of New York from 1983 to 1986. He initially made a living by drawing street portraits.
Immersing himself in the Pop art scene, which was rapidly gaining popularity, Ai began creating conceptual art and photography. Ai returned to China after his father became ill in 1993, and while there he helped to establish the experimental art scene called Beijing East Village. In 1999, Ai built a studio house in Beijing — his first architectural project. Ai founded the architecture studio FAKE Design in 2003, and co-curated the art exhibition "Fuck Off" with Feng Boyi in Shanghai.
In 2011, Ai was arrested and jailed. Released after 81 days, the government confiscated his passport. His release was in part due to the uproar of the art world against his charges of tax evasion; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the International Council of Museums both organized petitions, collecting almost 100,000 signatures calling for his release. When he reclaimed his passport in 2015, Ai moved to Berlin and lived in a studio. It became a base for him to create his international work.
Ai is the artistic director of China Art Archives & Warehouse. The experimental gallery and archive, co-founded by Ai in 1997, concentrates on experimental art from the People’s Republic of China, initiating and facilitating exhibitions both in China and internationally.
Ai's work is in the collections of museums worldwide, including the Tate, London; Arken, London; Brooklyn Museum, New York; and the RA, London. His international architectural collaborations, including the Beijing National Stadium and the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, have consistently been met with critical acclaim.
Find a variety of authentic Ai Weiwei prints, paintings and other art today on 1stDibs.
Ai Weiwei - Have You Seen Ai Weiwei's Cats? poster (Hand Signed by Ai Weiwei)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Offset lithograph poster Boldly signed in red marker by Ai Weiwei, and bearing the Kettle's Yard gallery logo (unnumbered, from a limited edition of fewer than 50 hand signed) The "H...
Offset
Cats (Black), Ai Weiwei Screen Print, Framed, Edition of 150, 2022
By Ai Weiwei
Located in London, GB
Screen print on Saunders Waterford 300gsm paper Hand-signed, dated, and numbered by the artist 28 × 32.8 cm Edition of 150 Framed The print was editioned by master printer, Kip Gres...
Screen
$2,500
Ai Weiwei - Cats (Red), original silkscreen, hand signed 116/150, Chinese Framed
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Ai Weiwei Cats (Red), 2022 Screen print on Saunders Waterford 300gsm paper Hand signed, dated, and numbered 87/150 by Ai Weiwei on the front 13 1/2 × 17 inches Unframed This print wa...
Pencil, Screen
Cats (Red), Ai Weiwei Screen Print, Framed, Edition of 150, 2022
By Ai Weiwei
Located in London, GB
Screen print on Saunders Waterford 300gsm paper Hand-signed, dated, and numbered by the artist 28 × 32.8 cm Edition of 150 Framed The print was editioned by master printer, Kip Gres...
Screen
Cats (Pink)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in London, GB
Screen print on Saunders Waterford 300gsm paper Hand-signed, dated, and numbered by the artist 45 x 62 cm Edition of 300 + 3 PP The print was editioned by master printer, Kip Gresham at The Print Studio, Cambridge for Kettle's Yard. It was made using an original drawing ‘cut’ into an acrylic sheet. The image is then reversed when printed. Description from the publisher: "Drawing has been fundamental to Ai Weiwei’s artistic practice from an early age. He also has a longstanding love of cats, and they appear frequently in the artist’s social media posts. Many cats used to roam his studio in Beijing. As part of the Kettle’s Yard exhibition, Ai’s ‘Cats wallpaper...
Screen
Year of the Ox Screen Print, Hand Signed, Printer's Proof, 48x48
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Aventura, FL
22-color Screen print on paper. Hand signed lower front by Ai Weiwei. Hand numbered 'Printer's Proof 4' on verso (there is also a main edition of 58). Artwork size: 39.81 x 39.87 ...
Screen, Paper
Ai Weiwei, Cats (Black) - Signed Print, Contemporary Art, Chinese Activist
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Hamburg, DE
Ai Weiwei (Chinese, b. 1957) Cats (Black), 2022 Medium: Screenprint on paper Sheet dimensions: 28 x 32.8 cm Frame dimensions: 36.1 x 41.2 cm Edition of 150: Hand-signed, numbered and...
Screen
Ai Weiwei, Cats (Silver) - Signed Print
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Hamburg, DE
Ai Weiwei (Chinese, b. 1957) Cats (Silver), 2024 Medium: Silver foil block on wove paper Dimensions: 27.2 x 32.8 cm (10 7/10 × 12 9/10 in) Edition of 200: Hand-signed, numbered and d...
Foil
$425
H 4 in W 6 in
Keith Haring 1985 announcement (Keith Haring at Tony Shafarzi Leo Castelli)
By (after) Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring at Tony Shafrazi/Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, 1985: Rare original 1980s announcement for two Keith Haring exhibitions: Keith Haring at Tony Shafrazi Gallery, October 26...
Offset, Lithograph
$1,500
H 17 in W 27.5 in
The Old Professor (Oo La La) Jim Dine lithograph and Ron Padgett poetry
By Jim Dine
Located in New York, NY
Bright orange leaps up like flames, or swaying grass, over which hovers a large-eyed bee sketched in black and orange. Over the fire-red in neat handwriting Ron Padgett...
Lithograph
$550
H 7 in W 7 in
Rare 1980s Keith Haring Record Art (Keith Haring David Bowie)
By Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring record art 1983 & 1988: A set of 2 rare 1980s Japanese vinyl records featuring original artwork by Keith Haring: David BOWIE "Without You" & Hiroshima All Stars. Truly vibrant colors that make for stand-out wall art and unique vintage Keith Haring collectibles. *1st Pressings 1983 & 1988 (not re-issues). Medium: Off-Set Lithograph on vinyl record covers. Dimensions: 7 x 7 inches. Printed signatures on lower right & left dated - 1983 & 1988 respectively. Light signs of handling; otherwise good to very overall vintage condition. Includes the original records (very good condition). Literature/References: Taschen: Art Record Covers. _ Keith Haring Album Art: a brief history: Whether collaborating with Grace Jones, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, regularly frequenting clubs like Paradise Garage alongside close friend Larry Levan, or sketching DJ robots, New York artist and activist Keith Haring’s work was deeply entwined with the music world lending his vision to sounds by everyone from David Bowie to Run DMC. Looking for something cool to complement this work? Please feel free to browse additional items like this from Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Keith Haring & more on our 1stDibs gallery page. Related Categories Keith Haring prints. Keith Haring figurative. East Village art...
Offset
Keith Haring Luna Luna 1986
By Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring Luna Luna Karussell. A Poetic Extravaganza!, 1986 (Keith haring Luna Luna): Luna Luna "was organized by Andre Heller for “A Fair with Mod...
Offset, Paper
Wine
By David Shrigley
Located in Manchester, GB
David Shrigley, Wine, 2021 Hand-signed and dated on the reverse Edition 29 of 125 75 x 56 cm Screenprint in colours Private Collection UK
Screen
Bunny On The Run, Screenprint Poster by Keith Haring
By Keith Haring
Located in Long Island City, NY
Date: 1990 Screenprint Poster, signed and dated in plate, numbered in pencil Edition of 1000 Image Size: 28 x 20 inches Size: 32 x 23 in. (81.28 x 58.42 cm) Commissioned by Playboy. ...
Screen
$490
H 15.75 in W 14.97 in D 0.04 in
The Kiss - Gustav Klimt's Dog, original, contemporary, art print
By Mychael Barratt
Located in Deddington, GB
Screenprint and gold leaf on paper. Signed and titled in pencil. Numbered from the edition of 100. Image size: 220 x 220mm Paper size: 380 x 400mm Gold Leaf on Paper Edition of...
Gold Leaf
Venice Biennale COW
By Andy Warhol
Located in New York, NY
Created by Andy Warhol for the 1976 Venice Biennale, Venice Biennale COW is a lithograph on wove paper that contains the artist’s name twice as well as "Copyright Andy Warhol La Bien...
Lithograph
$275
H 16 in W 25 in
Coursing 3, Art Nouveau Offset Lithograph after Louis Icart
By Louis Icart
Located in Long Island City, NY
Louis Icart, After, French (1888 - 1950) - Coursing 3, Medium: Offset Lithograph on paper, signed in plate, Image Size: 14.5 x 23.75 inches, Size: 16 x 25 in. (40.64 x 63.5 cm), D...
Lithograph, Offset
$4,500
H 29 in W 23.5 in
Walasse Ting - Green Cat, etching and aquatint, Signed/N, scarce Italian print
By Walasse Ting
Located in New York, NY
Walasse Ting 丁雄泉 Green Cat, 1984 Color etching and aquatint on copper plate, printed on Fabriano Rosaspina paper Pencil signed, numbered 178/230, dated 1984 along with artist's perso...
Ink, Mixed Media, Pencil, Graphite, Etching, Aquatint
$640Sale Price|20% Off
H 33 in W 20 in
Keith Haring Kutztown Connection 1984 (Keith Haring prints posters)
By Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring ‘Kutztown Connection’ 1984: This rare vintage 1980s Keith Haring poster was illustrated by Haring in conjunction with the Benefit Performances for the New Arts Program o...
Lithograph, Offset
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in W 12 in
Purity of Soul (Blue Dog Series), George Rodrigue
By George Rodrigue
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: George Rodrigue (1944-2013) Title: Purity of Soul (Blue Dog Series) Year: 2005 Edition: 142/190, plus proofs Medium: Silkscreen on archival pap...
Screen
Sold
H 9.88 in W 9.88 in D 0.02 in
Ai WeiWei 'Year of the Dragon (2024)' Lithograph Print
By Ai Weiwei
Located in San Rafael, CA
Ai Weiwei (b. 1957) Year of the Dragon (2024) From the series Dragon II Lithograph on Madrid Litho White 140gsm paper Edition 147/1500 Signed in plate Published and printed by #circa...
Lithograph
Sold
H 13.5 in W 17 in
Cats (Red), original silkscreen, hand signed 87/150 with official & gallery COAs
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Ai Weiwei Cats (Red), 2022 Screen print on Saunders Waterford 300gsm paper Hand signed, dated, and numbered 87/150 by Ai Weiwei on the front 13 1/2 × 17 inches Unframed This print was originally published by Kettle's Yard - before it rapidly sold out. It is accompanied by the Certificate of Authenticity issued by the publisher to the original owner. The print was editioned by master printer, Kip Gresham at The Print Studio, Cambridge for Kettle's Yard. It was made using an original drawing ‘cut’ into an acrylic sheet. The image is then reversed when printed. Description from the publisher: "Drawing has been fundamental to Ai Weiwei’s artistic practice from an early age. He also has a longstanding love of cats, and they appear frequently in the artist’s social media posts. Many cats used to roam his studio in Beijing. As part of the Kettle’s Yard exhibition, Ai’s ‘Cats wallpaper’ (2015) will be displayed in the Castle Street window. This artwork was originally exhibited as ‘Studio Cats’ in the exhibition Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, reflecting both artists’ mutual love of cats. For Kettle’s Yard, the drawing of Maple and Birch has been inserted among the other cats depicted on the wallpaper." Quote from Ai Weiwei: "I like cats very much because of their independent character, alertness and understanding of human beings; I have feelings approximating to reverence for them. Cats have been regarded as psychic animals since ancient times, no matter in China or ancient Greece. What’s even more interesting is that if a selfie of mine would be seen by 100 people, a cat photo...
Screen, Pencil
Cats (Red)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Ai Weiwei Cats (Red), 2022 Screen print on Saunders Waterford 300gsm paper Hand signed, dated, and numbered 59/150 by Ai Weiwei on the front 13 1/2 × 17 inches Unframed Hand signed, dated, and numbered 59/150 by Ai Weiwei on the front. This print was originally published by Kettle's Yard - before it rapidly sold out. The print was editioned by master printer, Kip Gresham at The Print Studio, Cambridge for Kettle's Yard. It was made using an original drawing ‘cut’ into an acrylic sheet. The image is then reversed when printed. Description from the publisher: "Drawing has been fundamental to Ai Weiwei’s artistic practice from an early age. He also has a longstanding love of cats, and they appear frequently in the artist’s social media posts. Many cats used to roam his studio in Beijing. As part of the Kettle’s Yard exhibition, Ai’s ‘Cats wallpaper’ (2015) will be displayed in the Castle Street window. This artwork was originally exhibited as ‘Studio Cats’ in the exhibition Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, reflecting both artists’ mutual love of cats. For Kettle’s Yard, the drawing of Maple and Birch has been inserted among the other cats depicted on the wallpaper." Quote from Ai Weiwei: "I like cats very much because of their independent character, alertness and understanding of human beings; I have feelings approximating to reverence for them. Cats have been regarded as psychic animals since ancient times, no matter in China or ancient Greece. What’s even more interesting is that if a selfie of mine would be seen by 100 people, a cat photo...
Screen
Cats (Pink)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Ai Weiwei Cats (Pink), 2022 Screen print on white Somerset Velvet, 300gsm 17 7/10 × 24 2/5 inches Signed in pencil by Ai Weiwei, Numbered from the limited edition of 300 and dated 2022 on the front Unframed This artwork, created by Ai Weiwei with his son Ai Lao, depicts their two cats Maple and Birch and was originally created for The Liberty of Doubt exhibition at Kettle's Yard. “I like cats very much because of their independent character, alertness and understanding of human beings; I have feelings approximating to reverence for them. Cats have been regarded as psychic animals since ancient times, no matter in China or Ancient Greece. What’s even more interesting is that if a selfie of mine would be seen by 100 people, a cat photo...
Screen
Sold
H 11.03 in W 12.92 in
Ai Weiwei, Cats (Black) - Signed Print, Contemporary Art, Chinese Activist
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Hamburg, DE
Ai Weiwei (Chinese, b. 1957) Cats (Black), 2022 Medium: Screenprint on paper Dimensions: 28 x 32.8 cm Edition of 150: Hand signed, numbered and dated Printer: Kip Gresham...
Screen